A heartfelt thank you to Sundance Square for their support over the last ten years and their commitment to global education for students. Sundance supports Sister Cities in many ways corporately but the Sundance Santa partnership is very unique. 100% of proceeds made from photos taken with Sundance Santa has provided over $110,000 for youth scholarships giving students an international perspective by participating in Sister Cities programs. Each year Sundance has provided all the camera equipment, film, giveaways for the children, and a wonderful Santa Claus with his beautiful sleigh and holiday setting to take photos for special holiday memories. Our partnership began with just one Polaroid camera in 2002 to this year’s high tech printers and digital cameras. Sister Cities has provided more than 2,000 students, parents and teacher volunteers to take the photos and to serve as Santa’s helpers thereby creating a magical partnership.
When I asked the Chief if fire fighter training in Fort Worth was similar or different to fire fighter training in Bandung, his response was “very different”. We had just toured the Tarrant County Fire Technology Program (FTP) with Richard “Rocky” Vasquez a Fort Worth Fire Fighter and seen many of the procedures, equipment and technology that keep the area’s fire fighter trainees safe during this comprehensive program. In Bandung, they do it for real. They use real diesel fuel to start real fires and explode real buildings. They rappel off 9-story structures so that they know what it will really be like when they go to an actual fire. This is indeed different! So the chief and his staff were most interested to see what the Tarrant County Fire Technology program has to offer.
Thank you to the Fire Technology Academy for the informative tour!
Fire fighter trainees come from cities all around Tarrant County to train at this academy. However, they are currently developing a hybrid version of the program in which many of their courses will be online. This will enable fire fighters from all over the world to begin their studies online before traveling to Texas for the hands on portion of the program. The Comanche Peak Nuclear Facility in Glenrose, Texas contracts with the FTP to train their engineers as fire fighters. The training these engineers receive enables them to go “anywhere on the planet” as fire service professionals. The creator of the FTP is currently working in Qatar, which boasts the largest oil production per capita, to create a similar program for the petroleum industry.
The Bandung delegation, JOHN HILBERT SIREGAR, SH, Head of Firefighter Dept., YAN ACHMAD SOFYAN, SE, Head of Sub-Dept., RIDWAN HARDIANTO, SIP Firefighter TOTOY YUHASMANA, Operator Unit/Driver, BELLA BHAKTI NAGARA, Fire Fighter, carefully observed equipment and training tools throughout the tour. They photographed everything, especially each other. (Notice they are wearing the same turnout gear that is hanging in the lockers…) It was great to see how quickly our photographs bridged the language barrier.
Swift Water Training was of particular interest to the delegation since their city lies in a river basin, surrounded by volcanos and the area is subject to frequent flooding. We observed the ‘remote control river’ which can rise at varying speeds anywhere from 20 minutes to fill to 7 minutes (or 80,000 gal/min.) to reach full capacity. You can see in the photo below, Hardi, our translator, describing the banana boat rescue craft design.
Another training structure, the high-rise, offers a room with a ‘spongy ceiling’. Trainees learn to back out of a room when the floor feels this way, since it is a signal that the support columns have been compromised and floor may give way at any moment. The Bandung crew recently worked a fire in which a roof collapsed, resulting in two of their own sustaining burns over 40% of their bodies. Personally, I didn’t want to be walking in that room even without it being on fire.
The rapid urbanization in Indonesia has increased the focus on fire safety and training. Hosting the Indo Firex: No. 1 Fire Protection and Safety and Rescue Industry Event is just one way that they are increasing access to vital information, experts and solutions to technical challenges of fire safety. Fort Worth Sister Cities is proud to be a part of these ongoing training efforts.
To see more photos go to the Fort Worth Sister Cities Flickr account, or visit our Facebook page.
Swift Water Training was of particular interest to the delegation since their city lies in a river basin, surrounded by volcanos and the area is subject to frequent flooding. We observed the ‘remote control river’ which can rise at varying speeds anywhere from 20 minutes to fill to 7 minutes (or 80,000 gal/min.) to reach full capacity. You can see in the photo below, Hardi, our translator, describing the banana boat rescue craft design.
Another training structure, the high-rise, offers a room with a ‘spongy ceiling’. Trainees learn to back out of a room when the floor feels this way, since it is a signal that the support columns have been compromised and floor may give way at any moment. The Bandung crew recently worked a fire in which a roof collapsed, resulting in two of their own sustaining burns over 40% of their bodies. Personally, I didn’t want to be walking in that room even without it being on fire.
The rapid urbanization in Indonesia has increased the focus on fire safety and training. Hosting the Indo Firex: No. 1 Fire Protection and Safety and Rescue Industry Event is just one way that they are increasing access to vital information, experts and solutions to technical challenges of fire safety. Fort Worth Sister Cities is proud to be a part of these ongoing training efforts.
To see more photos go to the Fort Worth Sister Cities Flickr account, or visit our Facebook page.
The Fort Worth Fire Dept. and the City of Fort Worth Dept. of Emergency Management will host five firefighters from Bandung, Indonesia, Fort Worth’s sister city since 1991. The exchange will take place Nov. 7-14. Fire station #2 will host the Indonesian fire fighters during their stay allowing them to live with Fort Worth firefighters and experience day to day life in the U.S.
Keith Wells, City of Fort Worth Emergency Management Coordinator, has organized this professional exchange in order that the two cities learn and exchange best practices with each other. They will also explore the fire fighter training academy at Tarrant County College and learn about special rescue techniques and emergency management practices.
While here, Sister Cities’ members will host the firefighters for cultural activities to show them the way of life in the U.S. “We are excited to welcome our Indonesian friends to Fort Worth,” said Tran Trong, Bandung Chair. “This is a wonderful opportunity for both cities to learn from each other and share our different cultures. It will give all of us a chance to know a totally different part of the world.”
Bandung, Indonesia selected Fort Worth as its first U.S. sister city and is setting the standard by which U.S.-Islamic partnerships are measured. Exchanges have included university-based nursing programs, as well as education and professional training in municipal waste water, security and waste management programs.
Organ Concert Result of Sister City Relationship with Trier, Germany
The Trier, Germany committee of Fort Worth Sister Cities International has planned a special performance by Martin Bambauer, concert organist and Director of Music at the Konstantin-Basilika in Trier, Germany, Fort Worth’s sister city since 1987.
The concert scheduled for Sunday, October 23rd, 4:00 p.m., at Broadway Baptist Church, 305 West Broadway, is free and open to the public. The American Guild of Organists will host a reception immediately following the concert.
Sister Cities stages international events and programs as a way to bring the world to Fort Worth and create citizen diplomats. “Despite the fact that technology has made the world a smaller place and facilitated communication, humanity is just as much in conflict. It is imperative that we prepare ourselves with skills and cultural understanding necessary to function in an increasingly globalized world. Sister Cities has programs that do just that,” said Michael Bennett, Trier Chair.
Martin Bambauer studied protestant church music at the Robert-Schumann-Hochschule Düsseldorf and the master class by Daniel Roth at the Musikhochschule Frankfurt. Since 1999, he has worked full-time as organist and choirmaster at the Konstantin-Basilika. From 2001 to 2008 he taught organ improvisation at the Musikhochschule Cologne. Martin Bambauer has visited many European countries and the USA as organist and conductor and has made several recordings.
For more information contact Beth Weibel at 817/632-7105 or visit www.fwsistercities.org.
Official agreements will be signed by Mayors Price and Li Zaiyong
Mayor Li Zaiyong of Guiyang, China, along with seven other Guiyang officials, arrive in Fort Worth on Sunday to sign the official document to become Fort Worth’s eighth sister city. The official signing ceremony will be held Monday, October 17th at 10:00 a.m. at City Hall in the Council Chambers and is free and open to the public.
“Fort Worth is eager to formalize relationships with Guiyang. We look forward to many exchanges between our two cities. Together, Fort Worth and Guiyang hope to create a better understanding of our individual cultures. There are many similarities and many differences we will be able to share,” said Mayor Betsy Price.
In May 2010, a Fort Worth delegation of Sister Cities board members, representatives from the Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce, City of Fort Worth and local business leaders visited China to determine which city to invite to become Fort Worth’s eighth sister city. Upon a recommendation by the Sister Cities board of directors, the Fort Worth city council unanimously selected Guiyang, China and an official invitation was extended. Guiyang immediately followed with its acceptance and the two cities will sign the official agreement next week.
Both cities have expressed a desire to create meaningful exchanges and as a result, through Sister Cities’ International Leadership Academy, 15 Guiyang students with two teachers came to Fort Worth in July 2011, spending two weeks with students in Fort Worth.
While here the Chinese delegation will interact with city officials, local business leaders, visit museums, other cultural sites and celebrate their final evening in Fort Worth at Billy Bob’s Texas with a farewell celebration including a performance provided by the Comanche Nation. “We are eager to show our new friends what Fort Worth has to offer and to encourage them to come back often,” said John Burgoyne, Sister Cities Guiyang Chair. Future exchanges may focus on education, economic relations, health, arts and culture all in an effort to create understanding and respect of each other’s cultures.
To see more pictures visit our Flickr page
New mayor and officials in Fort Worth to revitalize 21 year Sister Cities relationship.
Mayor Istvan Tarlos along with Deputy Mayor Istvan Grygory and three other officials from Budapest, arrived in Fort Worth on Sunday, August 16th where they were greeted by Fort Worth’s finest, FWPD, on horseback at the Worthington Hotel. Throughout the week they have met with city officials, chamber representatives, business leaders and members of Sister Cities to establish closer relations between the two cities.
Mayor Tarlos took office as mayor of Budapest in October 2010. This came after 20 years of service by the former mayor who had requested Fort Worth and Budapest become sister cities in 1990.
Mayor Betsy Price hosted the delegation earlier this week and discussed with Mayor Tarlos the many similarities between the two cities including budget deficits, mass transportation needs and a desire to create more economic growth.
In a welcome speech delivered by Mayor Price at the Museum of Science and History on Monday night she said, “It is my personal belief that when you spend time in the home of another person, whether that person is of another religion, another race or speaks another language, you develop an indescribable bond. We hope you consider Fort Worth your home and that you will develop many friendships while here.”
Mayor Price also presented the key to the city to the mayor at the Fort Worth city council meeting on Tuesday expressing her hope that they will consider Fort Worth their home.
After a helicopter ride around the area provided by Hillwood and informational meetings with The T, Fort Worth’s Waste Management and Homelessness directors, the delegation will enjoy their last evening in Fort Worth experiencing our Mexican culture with a farewell dinner at Joe T. Garcia’s Restaurant.
Student Exchange Supported by Harashin Company of Japan for 20 Years
Fort Worth will reach a milestone in international exchanges this year celebrating twenty years participation in the Harashin Scholars program with Nagaoaka, Japan, Fort Worth’s sister city since 1987.
Starting in 1990, The Harashin Co. of Nagaoka has funded scholarships for eight Fort Worth students and two teachers to visit Japan each year for an educational exchange. In return, these Fort Worth students host students and teachers from Nagaoka in their homes for a reciprocal exchange. This year’s Fort Worth students returned from Japan last week and the Japanese students arrived here earlier this week. The President of the Harashin Co., Mr. Kazuhiko Hara, also arrived this week.
The Harashin Co. has provided the funding for both the Fort Worth and Japanese scholars experience for 20 years and Mr. Hara will be honored August 11th at a 20 year anniversary celebration hosted by Fort Worth Sister Cities. Over 100 people who have taken part in this exchange program will be in attendance. Students and educators from exchanges as far back as 1991 will be there to honor Mr. Hara and give personal testimonials.
“It is an honor to recognize and thank Mr. Hara and his entire family for the generosity they have shown the students of Fort Worth who have participated in this unique program,” said Brad Mahon, Chairman of the Board of Sister Cities. “The Harashin Scholars program is our most successful youth exchange and has been funded from Japan. We can’t thank Mr. Hara and his entire family enough for their generosity,” said Mahon.
Fort Worth students are selected through a vigorous process including personal interviews, teacher recommendations and essays. The students meet monthly prior to the exchange for cultural and sensitivity training to prepare them for a meaningful experience as they represent Fort Worth and the U.S. A. as Youth Ambassadors. The Class of 2011 includes: Claudia Carranza, Julia King, Allison Meade, Francesca Roberts, Courtney Server, Zack Kurima Blough, Shelby Roberts accompanied by delegation leaders Pam Lea and Dr. Staussa Ervin.
International Education Important to Fort Worth and the African Continent
Sihle Dlamini from Mbabane, Swaziland, Fort Worth’s 7th sister city, will graduate in May from TCU. Ms. Dlamini was a member of the inaugural eight person student group who attended Sister Cities’ International Leadership Academy on a scholarship provided by the Black Ecumenical Leaders Alliance of Fort Worth in 2006.
After an eye-opening experience during her month in Texas, Ms. Dlamini applied for, and successfully enrolled, as a student at TCU under a one-year Sister Cities Scholarship awarded by TCU. She went on to apply for and receive additional scholarships and will finish her studies and graduate in May.
“We are so proud that Sihle took full advantage of her opportunity, eventually being awarded a full scholarship to cover her remainder of studies at TCU,” said Sister Cities Mbabane, Swaziland Chair Carlo Capua. “She has brought a rich culture to life teaching all of us more about Swaziland.”
Ms. Dlamini will be honored on April 21st at a special reception where TCU directors John Singleton and Karen Scott will recognize her achievements. City Council representative Kathleen Hicks will also speak about the value of this partnership on behalf of the City of Fort Worth. Also to be recognized are Steve and Judy Robinson, who home-hosted Sihle for four years giving her the opportunity to attend TCU.
Mbabane, Swaziland received overwhelming support from Fort Worth as the City’s first partner on the African continent. Signed in 2004, this partnership began with a truly beneficial humanitarian assistance project through the Wheelchairs for Peace program and continues today with annual youth and adult exchanges and library programs, as well as assistance through the African Urban Poverty Alleviation Program (AUPAP) grant awarded by Sister Cities International. The AUPAP grant funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, is being used to build a health and community center in Mbabane to be completed by the end of the year.
